Equinor has chartered Seacat Columbia, a new crew transfer vessel (CTV), from Seacat Services, for operations at its offshore wind farms off Norfolk, England.
The charter will cover service at the 317MW Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm and the 402MW Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm, both operated by Equinor on behalf of its partners from its operations and maintenance hub in Great Yarmouth.
Seacat Columbia is a UK-designed, built, flagged, owned and operated CTV, and the contract with Equinor has sustained 12 UK jobs.
Seacat Columbia was designed by marine engineering consultancy BAR Technologies and was built at Diverse Marine Shipyard on the Isle of Wight.
Close collaboration between developers and the UK supply chain continues to be fundamental to driving low-carbon innovation in all offshore wind project phases.
Equinor selected Seacat Columbia following a competitive tender due to its capability to reduce fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions, whilst increasing access to offshore wind farms in harsher sea states.
Tthe CTV can achieve greater fuel efficiency that can cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 1200 tonnes a year when working on the 24-hour charter of operation.
By minimising vessel motion, the CTV can see an average increase in stability across all sea states of up to 70% over a typical operational profile.
Kamala Hajiyeva, VP Asset Management, North Sea Renewables at Equinor, said: “We are pleased to have Seacat Columbia commencing operations at the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind Farms, given the benefits it will provide to service technicians servicing the wind farms as well as supporting our ongoing emissions reduction efforts.
“We’re delighted to have one of the UK’s first low emissions CTVs in the Equinor service fleet, with possibilities for future benefits.”